Violence erupts after recovery of body parts of a cow and a calf in Bulandshahr
A police inspector and a youth were killed on Monday as cow vigilantes run riot alleging illegal cow slaughter and torched a police post in Bulandshahr and clashed with police. The violence erupted soon after the recovery of the body parts of a cow and a calf in a nearby jungle. Protesters from Mahaw village in the district and nearby areas gathered outside the Chingarwathi Police Chowki and set it ablaze. They clashed with policemen and pelted stones and set several vehicles on fire.
"Police inspector Subodh Kumar died in hospital during treatment after being hit by a blunt object, probably stone," ADG Law and Order Anand Kumar said in Lucknow. Inspector Subodh Kumar was posted at the Siana Police Station. Police also said a 20-year-old youth, identified as Sumit, died of gunshot wounds during the clash.
As tension prevailed in the area following the violence that lasted nearly three hours, the Uttar Pradesh Government deployed additional police, including over 1,000 personnel of anti-riot forces, and ordered multiple probes — by SIT, ADG-Intelligence — and a magisterial enquiry.
Giving details of the incident, ADG Kumar said, "This morning, carcasses of the cows were found dumped in a forest area outside the village. Activists of right-wing organisations soon gathered at the spot and alleged that people of a community were indulging in cow slaughter."
Angry villagers and members of various Hindu groups brought the animal remains in tractor-trolley to the Chingarwathi Police Chowki and demanded action against the culprits. They raised slogans against the police administration and blocked the Bulandshahr-Garh State Highway.
Bulandshahr District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha, Sub-divisional Magistrate Avinash Kumar Maurya and other senior officials tried to reason with the protesters but they refused to budge. The protesters soon turned violent, pelting stones on policemen and indulging in arson, he said, adding that police had to open fire in self-defence.
Expressing concern over the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed ADG (Intelligence) SB Shirodkar to rush to Bulandshahr and submit the detailed findings within the next 48 hours for necessary action against those found guilty. Amid reports that the cop was lynched, the ADG said the exact reason for his death will be known after a post-mortem and the enquiry by the ADG-intelligence, who has been asked to submit a report in 48 hours.
The ADG said security has been bolstered in the area with 500 personnel of Rapid Action Force and 600 personnel of Provincial Armed Constabulary.
Meanwhile, mobile footage from the area, shot by onlookers, showed young men attacking policemen with stones. The violence started around 10 am in Siana area in the district where a major three-day congregation of Tablighi Jamaat had concluded this afternoon.
The policemen warned against attempts to spread any misleading information, saying the incident was not related in any way to the congregation. "The incident occurred 40-50 km from the congregation site. Some miscreants were behind the violence and action is being taken against them in accordance with law," the Bulandshahr Police tweeted in the evening.